Taoiseach to launch local history book

Taoiseach to launch 250-page book on history of Parke and Turlough


Michael Commins

AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny will preside at the official launch of ‘Parke & Turlough – Yesterday & Today’, in Parke Community Centre on Saturday evening, November 5. The book is a limited once-off publication covering cultural, sporting, historical and traditional aspects of community life over the last 100 years.
The 250-page book – the culmination of many long hours of research by the editorial committee under the guidance of Michael Maguire – contains over 100 short stories and many hundreds of family and parochial photographs. Many bring back fond memories from over the years with lots of humour and good nature to bring plenty of smiles along the way.
Turlough House, now the Museum of Country Life and formerly the home of the Fitzgeralds, is featured here. There are also excellent articles on their landscape and archaeology. The foreword is written by Enda Kenny, whose ancestors come from the Parke and Crimlin region.
Michael Maguire says they are thrilled with the final product. “I believe the quality of the material and indeed the writing by many of our contributors makes this book a masterpiece and a must-have read, not just locally but for the wider Parke/Turlough diaspora … who will warm to the sense of time and place coming through the welcoming pages,” he stated.
The book is available in hard and soft copy. It will be available at the launch and from November 6 through all the usual local outlets, including Castle Street Book Shop; Turlough Stores; Ross Stores; Ballyvary Post Office; Mulroy’s; Lyon’s Late & Early in Castlebar and Easons. The book can also be ordered from today at michelleflynn1@eircom.net.